Unexamined ideas can have unintended consequences. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” That may be overstating the case, but one thing is certain, the unexamined life will invariably produced unintended results. The fact is that our ideas and principles produce results. If we have never thought through the implications of those ideas and principles, they are going to surprise us with unintended consequences, undesired consequences, or second and third order consequences. If our ideas and principles are never articulated or scrutinized we will continually be caught off guard by the natural effects of our worldview. Follow a particular line of thought by adhering to a particular form of behavior for any length of time and there will be a whole string of effects. There will be a kind of worldview domino effect. One effect will lead to another and another and another and another.
This is worldview thinking at its most practical level. Let your mind dwell on forbidden and destructive fantasies and before you know it your thought life will be marked by unfaithfulness. Unfaithfulness will inevitably creates restlessness and discontent. That may lead directly to adultery. That may in turn result in separation or even divorce. The ripple effect of consequences may not end there: children are affected. Neighbors and friends are affected. On and on and on it goes. Worldviews matter. Ideas have consequences. Often, they have unintended consequences.
8.04.2005
7.28.2005
Whaa’z Uuuup Geoff-Dog?
Baba Brinkman wants modern teenagers to learn to love Geoffrey Chaucer’s classic Canterbury Tales as much as he does. So, the Canadian rap artist has translated some of the best-known works of the fourteenth-century poet into hip-hop in an effort to make them “more appealing.” According to Baba, “All the themes of rap music are there in the tales: jealousy, anger, greed, lust.” He had the idea of converting Chaucer into rap when he was working toward a masters’ degree on the poet nearly a decade ago. “I tried to keep the rap versions as close as possible to the original, so I went through the tales line-by-line,” he said. “It was a painstaking process to convert Chaucer into a rhyme scheme that young people would like."Yeah! I bet!
Commenting on the translation effort Jonathan Dickson, an English professor at a prestigious East Coast university, asserted, "I’m sure a few uppity traditionalist-types might object. But hey dude, we’ve had rock-n-roll Shakespeare and goth Milton, so why not hip-hop Chaucer?”
Hmmm. I think I’d best refrain from commenting on electric-razzle-dazzle Shakepeare, street-wise-posse Chaucer, or hipper-than-thou Ivy League Lit profs lest I find myself relegated to the cultural backwater of uppitydom. But, haute-goth-drag Milton? About that, I really think I'm just gonna have to go on record as hopelessly moss-backed.
7.27.2005
Federal Vision Reports
At its 80th stated meeting earlier this month the Louisiana Presbytery of the PCA adopted a report from an ad hoc committee on the various controversies surrounding the Federal Vision (or Auburn Avenue) theological movement. The report is available online at the Louisiana Presbytery website. This is the second full report on this issue from the PCA--the other came from the Mississippi Valley Presbytery earlier this year. It too is available online in a downloadable PDF file. As you will be able to readily discern, the two reports probably could not be more different--only highlighting the depth and breadth of this roiling controversy.
6.16.2004
We've graduated!
Friends,
Just had to share our good news with you all!!!
The huge milestone we heard so much about in the days before and immediately following the transplant almost slipped right past me! The 14th was our three month anniversary with Joe's new liver! We had been so busy fighting rejection the whole month of May, and trying to get down (and keep down) the potassium, that I totally forgot the significance of that date.
On the 15th the girls and I had to keep a previously scheduled "date" to have their yearly academic testing, while a friend from church took Joe to have his last big meeting with his transplant surgeon, and the rest of the team. Joe said it was a tearful "good-bye" with our transplant coordinator. We had already gone through the same thing with our transplant nurse, who had left the team two months ago to stay home with her new baby. They each shared how, from the time they had met our whole family, they had felt a very strong bond with us, and had "rooted" for us, and prayed for us, and hoped we'd get an organ soon. They shared just how deeply our experiences had touched and affected them. From the very beginning, we so wanted for God to get all the glory in our lives. I really hope they have seen Jesus in us-- that He was the strength in our weakness.
From here on, we take medical issues to our hepatologist instead of the team. Because of the recent rejection, we still have to have labs done each week. And we still aren't getting the potassium thing under control. In spite of our best efforts to avoid foods high in the element, Joe's body just will not get rid of the stuff. He has taken two treatments already this week, in an attempt to get it out lf his system, and has had blood drawn every morning to check on those levels. Hopefully, we'll hear positive news on that front today. We can, however, have labs done at hospitals closer to home!
We are looking forward to a great summer, and hope you all will have one too!!!
Love, the Shore family
Just had to share our good news with you all!!!
The huge milestone we heard so much about in the days before and immediately following the transplant almost slipped right past me! The 14th was our three month anniversary with Joe's new liver! We had been so busy fighting rejection the whole month of May, and trying to get down (and keep down) the potassium, that I totally forgot the significance of that date.
On the 15th the girls and I had to keep a previously scheduled "date" to have their yearly academic testing, while a friend from church took Joe to have his last big meeting with his transplant surgeon, and the rest of the team. Joe said it was a tearful "good-bye" with our transplant coordinator. We had already gone through the same thing with our transplant nurse, who had left the team two months ago to stay home with her new baby. They each shared how, from the time they had met our whole family, they had felt a very strong bond with us, and had "rooted" for us, and prayed for us, and hoped we'd get an organ soon. They shared just how deeply our experiences had touched and affected them. From the very beginning, we so wanted for God to get all the glory in our lives. I really hope they have seen Jesus in us-- that He was the strength in our weakness.
From here on, we take medical issues to our hepatologist instead of the team. Because of the recent rejection, we still have to have labs done each week. And we still aren't getting the potassium thing under control. In spite of our best efforts to avoid foods high in the element, Joe's body just will not get rid of the stuff. He has taken two treatments already this week, in an attempt to get it out lf his system, and has had blood drawn every morning to check on those levels. Hopefully, we'll hear positive news on that front today. We can, however, have labs done at hospitals closer to home!
We are looking forward to a great summer, and hope you all will have one too!!!
Love, the Shore family
5.19.2004
Hi, Everybody!
Friends,
Hope everyone at your house is doing just fine! We've come through a very interesting few weeks and thought we'd bring you up to date!
Joe sent out an update around the 3rd of the month to let you know what we were expecting to do that week. We went to the hospital on Tuesday morning the 4th for a third biopsy and a very invasive exploratory test whereby they would use a needle to look for any bile ducts that might be closing off. Since his blood count was down some, and his coagulation factor was considerably lower, they opted to hold us overnight to make sure there would not be a bleeding problem. By Wednesday, they were sure that we still had a rejection problem going on. After the 2nd biopsy, they had told us that it looked as though there was no more rejection following that IV treatment of solumedral. Apparently the rejection was not systemic and when they did the 2nd biopsy, it was from an unaffected area and did not show up. They were all set to keep us in the hospital and bring out the "big guns"-- they wanted this thing knocked out once and for all. Well, we did too, of course! But there was one very big glitch with this proposed scenario! We were to leave early Thursday morning for Tennessee. After all, Amy's graduation from college was on Saturday the 8th! They released us Wednesday afternoon, but the doctor's orders were for us to check back into the hospital immediately upon our return from TN.
Tuesday morning, after returning from Amy’s graduation, we checked into the hospital for the infamous OKT3 anti- rejection treatments. Joe received his first injection around 10 a.m. and reacted pretty well, except for the first five minutes. Wednesday morning at 9:30, the nurse came in to give Joe his pre-meds, with the second dose due at 10 o'clock. At that time they sheepishly informed us that the rest of their supply of OKT3 had expired, and they would have to get more from another hospital. That sounded ok to us--the only catch was, there aren't any other hospitals around that do transplants! The medicine was ordered directly from the drug company in New Jersey and didn't get to our hospital until 2:30 Thursday morning.
Joe received his second treatment Thursday morning, and soon after went into some of the side affects we had heard so much about. He basically felt like he'd been run over by a Mack truck--full blown flu-like symptoms with high fever and chills, etc. His other treatments Friday and Saturday went very well. I picked up the children on Saturday. Joe wasn't expected to get out of the hospital before Sunday or Monday, and I just really needed to get the kids and be with them again. They had such an incredible time with the family they were staying with. All the way home, they took turns telling me about all the fun stuff they did. The mother/daughter banquet at our church was Saturday evening, and I had been asked to speak, so we all went (including Micah!) and had such a wonderful time just being with our "family" there.
The cell phone rang Sunday morning between Sunday school and church. Joe had had his fifth treatment, and he was ready to come home! Well, we were ready for him to come home, so we left church right then to go pick him up. We loaded everyone into the van Monday morning and left for the hospital around 6. Joe had labs drawn, met with his transplant coordinator, and had his 6th OKT3 injection. We had hoped that Tuesday would be his 7th, and final injection. The hospital called to let us know, however, that his liver enzymes are still elevated. We will have to complete all ten treatments--each morning through Friday.
A precious friend from church drove Joe down to the hospital for his injection this morning. He has offered to take him tomorrow morning as well. That really means a lot to us. I have been able to finish a mountain of laundry, and write this "mini" book to you all! I know this has been lengthy, but thanks for taking time to catch up on what has been going on with us. And as always, thanks for your continued prayers on our behalf!
One final request, if I may. Joe has a lot of prednisone in his system and is going to be even more "pumped" by the end of this week. That stuff can really have some nasty side effects. He is having some trouble sleeping at night, and is seeing things that aren't really there. When he closes his eyes, he is annoyed by bright colors, etc. The OKT3 has it's own set of side effects--namely, bringing his immune system down into the basement, so to speak. It's as though we're starting all over at square one because of this rejection episode. We would so appreciate extra prayer cover these next days! We love you so very much! Thanks for the many ways in which you have ministered to our family!!!
Marcy, Joe, and the munchkins
Hope everyone at your house is doing just fine! We've come through a very interesting few weeks and thought we'd bring you up to date!
Joe sent out an update around the 3rd of the month to let you know what we were expecting to do that week. We went to the hospital on Tuesday morning the 4th for a third biopsy and a very invasive exploratory test whereby they would use a needle to look for any bile ducts that might be closing off. Since his blood count was down some, and his coagulation factor was considerably lower, they opted to hold us overnight to make sure there would not be a bleeding problem. By Wednesday, they were sure that we still had a rejection problem going on. After the 2nd biopsy, they had told us that it looked as though there was no more rejection following that IV treatment of solumedral. Apparently the rejection was not systemic and when they did the 2nd biopsy, it was from an unaffected area and did not show up. They were all set to keep us in the hospital and bring out the "big guns"-- they wanted this thing knocked out once and for all. Well, we did too, of course! But there was one very big glitch with this proposed scenario! We were to leave early Thursday morning for Tennessee. After all, Amy's graduation from college was on Saturday the 8th! They released us Wednesday afternoon, but the doctor's orders were for us to check back into the hospital immediately upon our return from TN.
Tuesday morning, after returning from Amy’s graduation, we checked into the hospital for the infamous OKT3 anti- rejection treatments. Joe received his first injection around 10 a.m. and reacted pretty well, except for the first five minutes. Wednesday morning at 9:30, the nurse came in to give Joe his pre-meds, with the second dose due at 10 o'clock. At that time they sheepishly informed us that the rest of their supply of OKT3 had expired, and they would have to get more from another hospital. That sounded ok to us--the only catch was, there aren't any other hospitals around that do transplants! The medicine was ordered directly from the drug company in New Jersey and didn't get to our hospital until 2:30 Thursday morning.
Joe received his second treatment Thursday morning, and soon after went into some of the side affects we had heard so much about. He basically felt like he'd been run over by a Mack truck--full blown flu-like symptoms with high fever and chills, etc. His other treatments Friday and Saturday went very well. I picked up the children on Saturday. Joe wasn't expected to get out of the hospital before Sunday or Monday, and I just really needed to get the kids and be with them again. They had such an incredible time with the family they were staying with. All the way home, they took turns telling me about all the fun stuff they did. The mother/daughter banquet at our church was Saturday evening, and I had been asked to speak, so we all went (including Micah!) and had such a wonderful time just being with our "family" there.
The cell phone rang Sunday morning between Sunday school and church. Joe had had his fifth treatment, and he was ready to come home! Well, we were ready for him to come home, so we left church right then to go pick him up. We loaded everyone into the van Monday morning and left for the hospital around 6. Joe had labs drawn, met with his transplant coordinator, and had his 6th OKT3 injection. We had hoped that Tuesday would be his 7th, and final injection. The hospital called to let us know, however, that his liver enzymes are still elevated. We will have to complete all ten treatments--each morning through Friday.
A precious friend from church drove Joe down to the hospital for his injection this morning. He has offered to take him tomorrow morning as well. That really means a lot to us. I have been able to finish a mountain of laundry, and write this "mini" book to you all! I know this has been lengthy, but thanks for taking time to catch up on what has been going on with us. And as always, thanks for your continued prayers on our behalf!
One final request, if I may. Joe has a lot of prednisone in his system and is going to be even more "pumped" by the end of this week. That stuff can really have some nasty side effects. He is having some trouble sleeping at night, and is seeing things that aren't really there. When he closes his eyes, he is annoyed by bright colors, etc. The OKT3 has it's own set of side effects--namely, bringing his immune system down into the basement, so to speak. It's as though we're starting all over at square one because of this rejection episode. We would so appreciate extra prayer cover these next days! We love you so very much! Thanks for the many ways in which you have ministered to our family!!!
Marcy, Joe, and the munchkins
5.03.2004
Post Trans Update
Greetings,
A lot has happened since our last update and things are progressing nicely. As is the norm with transplants there is some bumps in the road for the first three to six months but the big picture is a beautiful sun rise painted with the Master's brush.
I had two biopsies after an elevation in my liver enzymes. They showed I had some mild rejection which was handled through some extra treatments. I have progressed well enough to cut back to only having lab work checked once a week, and in a few weeks will be able to have this work done closer to home. This releves us from the early morning trips into the city traffic and staying into the afternoon. Some of the medication adjustments have greatly improved how I feel during the day, giving me more energy.
Today's labs have revealed another bump in our path to recovery, and no matter how it sounds it is believed by my doctor to still be a minor issue which can be easily treated. My liver enzymes and some of my stats have escalated above where they were when I had the other biopsies two weeks ago. They feel it has to do with a bile duct obstruction or the passage way from my liver to intestines (my passage way is different than normal due to an operation I had twenty years ago...I strive to be different). So in the morning starting at 6:30am I will have an ultrasound, liver biopsy, and a Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram (injecting dye into the liver's bile ducts to aid in looking for obstructions), along for any surgical procedures to correct what they find. We will be there all day and pray that we can come home at day's end rather than being admitted.
There are two minor surgical options they may use to correct the problem and I may need to go back on a medicine I was taking before the transplant for a while. The Lord has given me a very wise and caring transplant team to care for me and I thank Him for working through them. Every day I feel better and better and more grateful for that day's life and opportunities.
Thankful for His grace, Joseph Shore
A lot has happened since our last update and things are progressing nicely. As is the norm with transplants there is some bumps in the road for the first three to six months but the big picture is a beautiful sun rise painted with the Master's brush.
I had two biopsies after an elevation in my liver enzymes. They showed I had some mild rejection which was handled through some extra treatments. I have progressed well enough to cut back to only having lab work checked once a week, and in a few weeks will be able to have this work done closer to home. This releves us from the early morning trips into the city traffic and staying into the afternoon. Some of the medication adjustments have greatly improved how I feel during the day, giving me more energy.
Today's labs have revealed another bump in our path to recovery, and no matter how it sounds it is believed by my doctor to still be a minor issue which can be easily treated. My liver enzymes and some of my stats have escalated above where they were when I had the other biopsies two weeks ago. They feel it has to do with a bile duct obstruction or the passage way from my liver to intestines (my passage way is different than normal due to an operation I had twenty years ago...I strive to be different). So in the morning starting at 6:30am I will have an ultrasound, liver biopsy, and a Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram (injecting dye into the liver's bile ducts to aid in looking for obstructions), along for any surgical procedures to correct what they find. We will be there all day and pray that we can come home at day's end rather than being admitted.
There are two minor surgical options they may use to correct the problem and I may need to go back on a medicine I was taking before the transplant for a while. The Lord has given me a very wise and caring transplant team to care for me and I thank Him for working through them. Every day I feel better and better and more grateful for that day's life and opportunities.
Thankful for His grace, Joseph Shore
4.21.2004
Biopsy Results
We started our the day yesterday with a 7am liver biopsy at CMC. Followed by waiting in the recovery area until 1pm. Have you ever been given medicine to relax you, told to lie as still as possible (to prevent bleeding from the procedure) then try to read a book. Well let's just say I took a very long time trying to read the same paragraph over and over suspended in 317 BC wondering around Palestine.
Our coordinator called later that afternoon with the results from pathologist report. The test showed all of my organ rejection was gone. This was a blessing beyond what we had even contemplated. I was just expecting to find the reason my liver enzymes were elevated so we could treat it. Praise God for his healing hand. They feel that a blood pressure medicine was the cause for my elevated levels. Today I have started a new medicine which should work better with my system.
Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement, Joseph
Our coordinator called later that afternoon with the results from pathologist report. The test showed all of my organ rejection was gone. This was a blessing beyond what we had even contemplated. I was just expecting to find the reason my liver enzymes were elevated so we could treat it. Praise God for his healing hand. They feel that a blood pressure medicine was the cause for my elevated levels. Today I have started a new medicine which should work better with my system.
Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement, Joseph
4.19.2004
Still Wondering
Friends,
We spent a good chunk of our morning reading, pacing, and nodding off while we waited for our lab work to come back! We have got dots all over the page, and no logical way to connect them!!! Oh well! There is just no rhyme or reason to the stats on that page! Some numbers are up...some are down. Things are not making a whole lot of sense right about now. So...we're back to CMC at 7 in the morning for the second biopsy. (By the time the results came back it was too late to schedule for today.)
The procedure and recovery time are going to be a good 5 hours. They want to get this thing figured out, but have no plans to keep us.
Thank you so much for your faithfulness to hold us up in prayer! You just do not know how much this means to our family!
"Great is Thy faithfulness,
O, God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not.
Thy compassions, they fail not.
As Thou hast been,
Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness.
Great is Thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning, new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me."
With much love from the Shore family.
We spent a good chunk of our morning reading, pacing, and nodding off while we waited for our lab work to come back! We have got dots all over the page, and no logical way to connect them!!! Oh well! There is just no rhyme or reason to the stats on that page! Some numbers are up...some are down. Things are not making a whole lot of sense right about now. So...we're back to CMC at 7 in the morning for the second biopsy. (By the time the results came back it was too late to schedule for today.)
The procedure and recovery time are going to be a good 5 hours. They want to get this thing figured out, but have no plans to keep us.
Thank you so much for your faithfulness to hold us up in prayer! You just do not know how much this means to our family!
O, God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not.
Thy compassions, they fail not.
As Thou hast been,
Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness.
Great is Thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning, new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me."
With much love from the Shore family.
4.17.2004
Looking to a New Week
Friends,
Monday morning we plan to be at CMC bright and early for our regular labs, clinic, and physical therapy--all beginning at 7:00 a.m. But with a slight twist we wish you'd pray about with us! Once the usual amount of blood is drawn, the samples are going to be hand delivered to the lab,and the results immediately sent back to the transplant people. We are to be prepared to stay on at the hospital for a second biopsy if Joe's liver numbers are not coming down. Thanks for your love and prayers as you walk this journey with us! Have a blessed Lord's day and coming week!
Love from the Shore family
Monday morning we plan to be at CMC bright and early for our regular labs, clinic, and physical therapy--all beginning at 7:00 a.m. But with a slight twist we wish you'd pray about with us! Once the usual amount of blood is drawn, the samples are going to be hand delivered to the lab,and the results immediately sent back to the transplant people. We are to be prepared to stay on at the hospital for a second biopsy if Joe's liver numbers are not coming down. Thanks for your love and prayers as you walk this journey with us! Have a blessed Lord's day and coming week!
Love from the Shore family
4.14.2004
Update from Mom
Dear praying friends,
Thanks so much for all the love and prayers that have been directed Heaven-ward and our way as well! God's grace in timing and provision just continue to astonish us at every turn. God is good--all the time! Last Monday our lab tests turned out great, and as a result, one of our medications (an immunosuppresant) was dropped. By last Thursday, however, some very important liver numbers were obviously on the rise. We hadn't been home from that morning of labs and physical therapy for more than an hour, when our transplant coordinator called and asked us to return to the hospital immediately. We hustled everyone back into the van and hit the road for a return trip to Charlotte. The children and I got real creative with activities to while away the five or so hours that it took for the team to perform an ultrasound/liver biopsy procedure on Joe. We all returned home later that night thankful for God's safe-keeping through one very topsy-turvy day. (No one had to sing a one of us to sleep that night!) Our coordinator called back on Friday to let us know that the biopsy had revealed some mild rejection going on. Our main anti-rejection medication was increased, and we had went on to have a very quiet, relaxing Easter. We were back to CMC on Monday morning for another round of labs, transplant clinic and physical therapy. We made it as far north from Charlotte as Concord when our transplant coordinator called on the cell phone. Yeah, you guessed it. We had to turn around and head back to the hospital! Our numbers had jumped from 30 to 69 and 37 to 85 last week, and had risen to 155 and 279 by Monday. We checked in at the outpatient infusion clinic in CMC's cancer clinic for a round of heavy-duty IV steroids. Hopefully, that treatment will stop the rejection process. Some amount of rejection is a very common thing. Sort of goes with the territory, I suppose. But it doesn't make it any less unnerving when you go head-to-head with it! The treatment does have Joe's body a little "out of whack", and we have spent the rest of Monday and today giving our Accucheck , syringes, and insulin a pretty good workout. Please pray with us that this won't be a permanent thing. We would rather not add diabetes to our long list on this very interesting journey, but God knows what is best, and will do what is best for us--every step of the way. We go back to Charlotte for labs on Thursday morning. Thanks ever so much for your continued prayers. Your love, prayers, and encouragement mean the world to us!
"All the way my Savior leads me; what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell;
For I know what-e'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
"All the way my Savior leads me, cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter, and my soul a-thirst may be,
Gushing from the rock before me, lo, a spring of joy I see.
"All the way my Savior leads me- Oh the fulness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father's house above:
When my spirit, clothed, immortal, wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way."
Much love from the Shore family
Thanks so much for all the love and prayers that have been directed Heaven-ward and our way as well! God's grace in timing and provision just continue to astonish us at every turn. God is good--all the time! Last Monday our lab tests turned out great, and as a result, one of our medications (an immunosuppresant) was dropped. By last Thursday, however, some very important liver numbers were obviously on the rise. We hadn't been home from that morning of labs and physical therapy for more than an hour, when our transplant coordinator called and asked us to return to the hospital immediately. We hustled everyone back into the van and hit the road for a return trip to Charlotte. The children and I got real creative with activities to while away the five or so hours that it took for the team to perform an ultrasound/liver biopsy procedure on Joe. We all returned home later that night thankful for God's safe-keeping through one very topsy-turvy day. (No one had to sing a one of us to sleep that night!) Our coordinator called back on Friday to let us know that the biopsy had revealed some mild rejection going on. Our main anti-rejection medication was increased, and we had went on to have a very quiet, relaxing Easter. We were back to CMC on Monday morning for another round of labs, transplant clinic and physical therapy. We made it as far north from Charlotte as Concord when our transplant coordinator called on the cell phone. Yeah, you guessed it. We had to turn around and head back to the hospital! Our numbers had jumped from 30 to 69 and 37 to 85 last week, and had risen to 155 and 279 by Monday. We checked in at the outpatient infusion clinic in CMC's cancer clinic for a round of heavy-duty IV steroids. Hopefully, that treatment will stop the rejection process. Some amount of rejection is a very common thing. Sort of goes with the territory, I suppose. But it doesn't make it any less unnerving when you go head-to-head with it! The treatment does have Joe's body a little "out of whack", and we have spent the rest of Monday and today giving our Accucheck , syringes, and insulin a pretty good workout. Please pray with us that this won't be a permanent thing. We would rather not add diabetes to our long list on this very interesting journey, but God knows what is best, and will do what is best for us--every step of the way. We go back to Charlotte for labs on Thursday morning. Thanks ever so much for your continued prayers. Your love, prayers, and encouragement mean the world to us!
Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell;
For I know what-e'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
"All the way my Savior leads me, cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter, and my soul a-thirst may be,
Gushing from the rock before me, lo, a spring of joy I see.
"All the way my Savior leads me- Oh the fulness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father's house above:
When my spirit, clothed, immortal, wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way."
Much love from the Shore family